Looking for a boat? Better get one soon...

There is a Boat Buying Frenzy

Jun 03, 2020

Baird Research, which surveys dealer confidence, shows what is going on at dealerships around the country. The red line indicates current dealer sentiment. Reprinted from Soundings Trade Only.

From all over the country, we are now getting reports that a boat buying frenzy is playing out at many dealerships. From runabouts and center consoles to large express and flybridge cruisers and motoryachts, boats are selling at a fast pace, and many dealers are running out of inventory. Builders of large boats in the $1 to $2 million range report that nationwide inventory is often in single digits, and in some cases only a couple of boats are available for immediate delivery. One financial institution is saying its boat loan business is up 31%. BoatTEST has seen a huge spike in boat research on its website, something echoed by virtually all major online classified services. 

Reprinted from Soundings Trade Only --

Marine dealer sentiment shot to their highest levels since 2018, with the outlook on current conditions measuring 76, versus 19 in April, according to a new survey.

The three- to five-year outlook also improved among 67 dealers who responded to the Pulse Report, a survey administered by Baird Equity Research in conjunction with the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas and Trade Only Today.

“The ‘family’ has recognized due to the pandemic, vacation is out for this year,” wrote one dealer respondent. “No amusement parks, hotels, cruises, destinations closed, etcetera. So, let's look at boating!”

“We are finally seeing more new boaters and families,” wrote another.

Seventy percent reported retail growth in May, up from just 20 percent prior months, and the strongest recorded in the Pulse Report since July 2018, according to Baird.

Boating is a Sign of the Times

The pandemic has created “a surge in interest in socially-distanced outdoor activities, but the true impact on retail demand is hard to parse — even for those in the industry,” read the Pulse Report.

"I've never seen a buying frenzy like this,” wrote one retailer. “Is this a short-term bump or is it a long-term change in consumer habits?"

Used boat retail also altered noticeably, with 74 percent reporting growth, versus just 16 percent reporting a decline.

Used Boat Sales Picking Up, Too

Dealers reported increased consumer interest in listing their boats for sale and a stronger interest in late-model trade-in activity.

“Preowned is moving fast, and not just extremely clean product."

However, another remarked: "Deals getting tougher to do, as trade values are trending way above book value."

Used lean inventory and higher used boat prices support higher levels of new boat sales — a positive for OEMs.

“Our checks support anecdotal evidence that consumers are shifting their leisure time and dollars to socially-distanced outdoor activities,” said the report.